Constellations.

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Presentation on theme: "Constellations."— Presentation transcript:

2 ConstellationsConstellations are a group of stars that form a pattern in the skyThe shapes you see all depend on your point of view.Stars in a constellation are NOT close to each other, but when viewed from Earth they seem to be grouped together

3 Constellations The sky seems to turn as Earth rotates (around Polaris)Polaris: aka the North Star, directly above the North PoleYou can use Polaris to figure out direction & locationExample: If you are in Plain Twp. at 41 ° latitude, you will find Polaris at 41 ° latitude in the sky

4 Ursa MajorUrsa Major is probably the most famous constellation, with the exception of Orion. Also known as the Great Bear, it has a companion called Ursa Minor, or Little Bear.The body and tail of the bear make up what is known as the Big Dipper.Most of the constellation is circumpolar, which means it can be viewed all year long. However, parts of the legs will disappear from the sky in the fall and reappear in the winter.

5 Orion so bright, that even the naked eye can see the fuzzy patchMost famous seasonal constellation.Orion's Belt makes the hunter easy to find in the night sky.Orion Nebula - located in Orion's sword, which hangs from the belt.so bright, that even the naked eye can see the fuzzy patchNebula- birthplace of stars

6 Orion the HunterOrion is the master of the winter skies. He lords over the heavens from late fall to early spring, with his hunting dog Sirius trailing at his feet.Many different civilizations saw this constellation in the sky. The most famous stories come from Greek and Roman myths. Orion was a famed hunter, and in one story boasted that no creature could kill him. Hera then sent Scorpius, a scorpion to sting the hunter. Orion smashed the animal with his club, but not before he was poisoned. Both are now on opposite sides of the sky. They cannot be seen at the same time.

7 What did we learn?A constellation is a group of stars that form a pattern in the skyA solar system contains only 1 starConstellations change position in the night sky due to Earth’s rotation